In Ghana, a lot of business happens on WhatsApp. Shops take orders on it, offices share schedules in groups, NGOs send field updates, and job adverts for shop attendants and customer service roles often ask for people who are comfortable using it for work. SydCrest itself runs a WhatsApp community. Using WhatsApp well at work is different from chatting with friends.
Writing clear work messages
- Start with a greeting and the person's name. "Good morning Mr Fuseini."
- Put the main point first. Do not send "Hello" and wait. Send the full message in one go.
- Use full words. Short forms like "hw" and "pls dnt" can confuse people and look careless.
- One topic per message. It is easier to reply to and to find later.
- End with what you need. "Please confirm by 3pm."
Voice notes or text?
Voice notes are quick, but the listener must find a quiet place to play them, and they cannot search them later. For prices, addresses, dates and names, send text. Use a short voice note when explaining something takes too long to type, and say the key details clearly.
Sharing photos and documents
- To share a document such as a CV or a price list as a PDF, tap or click the attach button next to the message box (often a paperclip or a plus sign), choose and pick the file. Sending as a document keeps it sharp and keeps its name.